In a world first, Chinese scientists have created a robot that’s controlled by human brain cells.
Researchers from Tianjin University and the Southern University of Science created an organoid from human stem cells and then connected it to a neural interface, allowing it to pass instructions to a robotic body.
According to a statement, the robot is the “world’s first open-source brain-on-chip intelligent complex information interaction system.”
Images: Tianjin University
The researchers’ long-term aim is to create brain-computer interfaces that can be used to transmit electrical signals between the brain and computers.
Human pluripotent stem cells, which can develop into any cell type in the human body, were used to create the organoids. They then attached it to a special interface as part of a robotic body and taught the cyborg to perform simple tasks like gripping objects.
The researchers used ultrasound technology to stimulate the brain and form new networks among brain cells. The technology could be used to help patients who have suffered brain damage, for example as a result of a stroke.
It’s unclear, though, whether living-tissue organoids could be used to repair brain tissue or reconstruct damaged or dead areas of the brain. Tests on rodents suggest this is a possibility.
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